Is Ostracism the Best Form of Punishment?

The “Callout” is a new trend aiming to target sexual abusers in the punk/hardcore rock community of Richmond, Virginia. They are targeted by essentially being “called out” for what they have done, in order to be ostracized by the community as a whole. This acts as a punishment for the abusers, by removing them completely from the only life they have. NPR’s “Invisibilia” podcast takes on the story of what’s been going on in Richmond, by interviewing Emily, the woman who started it all. The podcast is character driven, when you meet Emily, you are introduced to her entire background, and you are able to see how she was shaped into the woman that she is today, and what essentially brought her to creating the “Callout”. Much of the podcast is her own voice speaking about her own personal experience. However the story is not completely one sided, and the “Callout” is not met without opposition. You are also introduced to a few other characters, of whom which are not exactly Emily’s biggest fans. Their stories are mixed in with Emily’s in order to create contrast and tension. By interviewing her opposers, you meet a side of Emily that you hadn’t seen up until this point in the podcast. She expresses a very emotional and dark side to her story, and shares the hardship that comes with speaking your mind. Emily is interviewed but allowed to tell her own story. The questions posed give her the ability to be genuine and honest about her experiences, without feeling constrained and forced to tell a story that is fluffed or vague. NPR edits in a repetition of phrases here and there to build tension, and adds anxiety inducing music over her words in order to create a dramatic experience for the listener. By doing this, and also adding music in between interviews and the different characters speaking to keep the story flowing and help set the scene.